Energy and Electricity
The beginning of the twenty-first century has seen rapid changes in the domestic and international energy landscape. In order to accommodate current and future challenges, scientists are analyzing policy options that balance growing electricity demands with the need to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Will we be prepared to meet the energy demands of an ever-growing world population? Include one of the Sub-Topics: Biomass and Plant Biofuels, Electricity Markets and Regulation, Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas, Offshore Drilling, Oil, Renewable and Clean Energy, Shale Gas
Sample Solution
The beginning of the twenty-first century has seen dramatic shifts in the way global energy demand is being met. In response to growing environmental concerns and projected energy needs, policy makers are exploring a range of options that balance electricity requirements with sustainability goals. One such option is the increased use of biomass and plant biofuels as renewable sources of energy. Biomass refers to any organic matter derived from living organisms that can be burned for fuel, such as wood, agricultural residues and animal waste. Plant biofuels are fuels made from plants or their derivatives (e.g., ethanol). These technologies have been shown to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously generating sustainable forms of electricity (Whitaker et al., 2018).
Biomass power plants have become increasingly popular due to their low cost, high efficiency and ability to utilize existing infrastructure. Additionally, they offer more flexibility than other forms of renewable energy such as solar or wind power by providing round-the-clock electricity production without relying on intermittent weather conditions (Hoehne et al., 2019). Plant biofuels add an additional layer of versatility since they can be used in combustion engines directly or blended with gasoline or diesel fuel for internal combustion vehicles (Lamers et al., 2018). This makes them attractive for transportation applications where battery electric vehicles may not yet be feasible due to cost constraints or lack of necessary charging infrastructure.
Despite their potential benefits, there are some challenges associated with biomass and plant biofuel technologies that must be addressed before large scale adoption occurs. These include land use changes associated with crop growth for fuel production; insufficient access to feedstock materials; water scarcity issues; rising costs related to feedstock acquisition; competition between food crops and energy crops; limited storage capacity; decreased efficiency when combined heat & power systems are not utilized properly; economic subsidies impacting pricing equitability across different types of renewables technologies (Hoehne et al., 2019). Policymakers should carefully consider these issues when developing regulations regarding the future use of biomass & plant biofuel technology as a source for meeting global electrical demands going forward into the 21st century .
